Deferral: the sociology of young trans people’s epiphanies and coming out

Abstract

This paper presents data characterizing young trans people’s experience during the period prior to coming out to parents as transgender. By analyzing data obtained directly from young trans and non-binary people it produces a sociological characterization of this period overall as the ‘Deferral’ period. The Deferral Period is further characterized as consisting of two parts; a ‘Tacit Deferral’ period, prior to epiphany as trans, and subsequent ‘Discursive Deferral’ period. The data indicate that both these deferral periods vary in length quite considerably but usually seem to be measurable in months and years. In particular these data contest the validity of concept of ‘rapid-onset gender dysphoria’ and the way young trans people are positioned by ‘passive victim’ narratives in many academic and media accounts. The analysis of the different ways young trans people construct their identities, prior to and after epiphany produces a ‘Timeline of Revelation’. The data suggest many commonalities of experience among young trans people, and well as some differences and in particular the data exemplify how, young trans and non-binary people’s own agency is key in negotiating barriers to transition.

Keywords:

• Deferral
• trans youth
• ROGD
• agency
• sociology

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Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 Eg Turner, J Sunday Times 18 Aug 2018

2 Eg; Bindel, J Daily Mail 24 October 2016

3 E.g. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2016/10/how-society-failing-transgender-children

4 For readers not familiar with accepted conventions regarding gendering of trans people they are always referred to using their affirmed genders. So in this instance although Kergil was assigned female at birth, his affirmed gender is male, so the pronoun “he” is used.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was obtained for the production of this research.

Notes on contributors

Natacha Kennedy

Dr Natacha Kennedy is a lecturer in education and sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London, having recently completed a sociology PhD at University College London. She identified as trans from the age of five. She has spoken at numerous conferences and symposia around the world from Tokyo to Dublin, mostly about trans issues. Her research to date has predominantly been in the field of trans children and young people. A former primary school teacher living in London she speaks a number of European languages having studied and worked abroad extensively.